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Here Comes the "New Wave": Activists Revisit Streets of Berlin - But is the Public Fooled Again?
From the ashes of the infamous "Last Generation," a new group emerges - the "New Wave." Over the weekend, Berlin witnessed a comeback, with press blockades, bike lane makeovers, and a self-proclaimed citizen's council causing a stir. But are their methods any less questionable?
Take the blockade at the Springer printing plant, where around 30 members of the "New Wave" crew attempted to halt the distribution of Bild newspaper and B.Z. This tactic smacks of freedom of press infringement, an integral component a democracy must not swallow. It's as peculiar as arguing for press freedom while attempting to liberate the republic from the "Springer shackles."
The group's struggle remains clear: commanding attention. Actions like defacing museum exhibits with their own messages or the infamous soup and mashed potato assaults no longer leave you gasping. On the other hand, the resistance collective, spawned from the Last Generation, focuses on painting bike lanes instead of blocking streets. Is it tedious, or is it creating traffic chaos? Time will tell, but one thing is certain - it sparks debate on the inadequacy of cycling infrastructure.
The "Parliament of the People" idea, proposed by the New Wave gang, emphasizes dialogue over confrontation. Sixty ordinary citizens engaged in a three-day debate before the Reichstag, discussing ways to reduce the political influence of money. The result: a call for greater public participation and climate policy. Not exactly groundbreaking, but it rings true. Let's hope their strategies don't meet the same fate as other citizens' councils - a political void.
Behind the Scenes:
In reality, as of late May 2025, there is no widely recognized climate activist group in Germany specifically dubbed "New Generation." However, the most significant recent developments revolve around a group assumed to be its successor, which employs disruptive techniques in climate activism[1].
The New Wave clan, posing as Last Generation's heir, plans a week of protests in Berlin commencing May 27, 2025. In the past, such groups have employed road blockages, causing traffic jams and sparking public debate, and shifted toward "disobedient assemblies"[1]. Expected developments in May 2025 may involve renewed disruptive actions, like road blockages or airport disruptions, or symbolic acts like gluing to streets or property defacement[1].
However, the larger climate activist network in Germany is also evolving. Networks like "Grow the Future" aim to support the next generation of progressive voices, including activists, educators, and professionals, through international learning and dialogue[5]. The movement as a whole is predicted to become more complex, with both direct and indirect climate-related protests likely to increase as the impacts of climate change intensify[4].
The "New Wave," following in the footsteps of the "Last Generation," has re-emerged in Berlin's political landscape, causing a stir with disruptive tactics that question the boundaries of freedom of the press and democracy. Despite their stated focus on climate policy and reducing political influence of money, their methods, such as road blockades and museum defacements, have sparked debates on public participation and cycling infrastructure, reminiscent of the discussions initiated by their predecessors.
